Saint Anastasia was born in the renowned city of Rome. She was distinguished by her nobility, spiritual and physical beauty, good character, and meekness. Her father, Praetextatus, was a senator and professed the Hellenic pagan faith. Her mother, Fausta, believed in Christ. As a girl, Anastasia was entrusted by her mother to be educated by a worthy man renowned for his learning and, even more so, his piety. His name was Chrysogonus. He was a Christian, well versed in the divine teachings of Christ, and later became a martyr. From this holy man, Anastasia learned more than just letters; she also learned to know Him Who is the origin of all things visible and invisible, the goal of all pious desires of the heart, the One True God, the Creator and Perfecter of all things. And she began to diligently read Christian books, studying the law of the Lord day and night, and strengthening her heart in love for God.
When Anastasia finished her studies with Chrysogonus, she was unanimously glorified as a wise and beautiful maiden.
Meanwhile, Anastasia's blessed mother, Fausta, departed this life. Her father, against her will, married her to a certain Pompilius, also of senatorial descent and a professor of the Hellenic faith. Anastasia was led to the home of her fiancé, a faithful woman to an unfaithful man, a lamb of Christ to a wolf. But God, to whom her sobs rose, before whom she prayed day and night, preserved her. The saint did not lose her virginity, and her impure husband did not defile her pure body. Anastasia pretended to have a persistent and incurable female affliction, claiming she could not be her husband's wife. Sometimes, her husband would try to force her to satisfy his lust by force, but Anastasia, with the invisible help of her Guardian Angel, would break free from his grasp—and thus she remained a pure virgin.
Often, removing her luxurious clothing and precious jewelry and secretly donning beggarly rags, Anastasia would leave the house, unknown to all but one slave, who constantly accompanied her. With this slave, Anastasia would visit all the prisons, buying her way into them with gold from the guards. She visited those suffering for Christ's sake, serving them with reverence and zeal as best she could. She washed the prisoners' hands and feet, cleansed their matted hair, filled with dirt, wiped away their blood, bandaged their wounds with clean linen, and served each one food and drink. Then, having served them sufficiently, she returned home.
These activities often forced her to leave the house, and her husband didn't miss this. He learned that Anastasia was visiting prisoners and became even more enraged, especially since he had already been irritated by the saint for her refusal to marry him and had vexed her greatly for it. He learned of Anastasia's affairs from the slave who accompanied her; this treacherous woman told him everything.
Having cruelly beaten Anastasia, her lawless husband locked the saint in a separate room, placing a guard over her so she couldn't leave. And the saint grieved in spirit for those imprisoned for Christ, for not visiting them, not serving them, not providing them with everything they needed. Anastasia's heart especially ached for her teacher, Saint Chrysogonus, because she couldn't see him.
For two years, Saint Chrysogonus had endured many torments while in prison. When free, Anastasia often visited him. Now, however, imprisoned and under watchful surveillance, she was unable to visit her teacher.
Anastasia's husband especially began to oppress her when the pious wife's father, Praetextatus, died. Praetextatus's entire considerable estate passed by inheritance to Anastasia, as his only daughter, for he had no other children or relatives. Then Pompilius, taking advantage of his father-in-law's death, out of hatred for Anastasia for her dissent from his carnal desires, plotted to kill her so that he could inherit her entire estate and live with another wife on someone else's money. Treating the saint as a captive and slave, he tortured and tormented her daily. This is known from a letter she secretly wrote to Chrysogonus and sent through an eldress. Here is the letter: "To the holy confessor of Christ, Chrysogonus, from Anastasia. My father was an idolater; but my mother, Fausta, always lived a pure and pious Christian life. And she made me a Christian from my earliest infancy. After her death, I took upon myself the heavy yoke of marriage with a pagan. But, by God's mercy, I successfully evaded his bed, feigning illness, and now, day and night, I embrace the feet of my Lord Jesus Christ. My husband, however, squanders my inheritance with unworthy and vile idolaters, boasting of my wealth as if it were his own, and he torments me, as a sorceress and opponent of his pagan faith, in such harsh confinement that I have no choice but to surrender my spirit to the Lord and fall dead. Of course, I should rejoice that, having suffered for the Lord, I will die confessing Him, but I am deeply grieved to see all my riches, promised to God, squandered by the hands of impious and ungodly men. Therefore, I beg you, man of God, to pray earnestly to the Lord Christ that He will either spare my husband if He knows he will one day believe, or, if he continues to remain in unbelief, that He will command him to depart from among the living and make way for those who honor God. It is better for him to die than not to confess the Son of God and hinder those who do confess Him. I call upon Christ to witness that if I am free, I will spend my life in the service of the saints and will diligently care for them, as I have already begun to do... Save yourself, man of God, and have mercy on me." This letter to Saint Anastasia was answered: "Chrysogonus to Anastasia." To you, troubled by the storms and turmoil of this world, Christ, who walks on the waters, will soon come, and with a single word He will calm the winds of the enemy's slanders that are raging against you. Finding yourself in the midst of a troubled sea, patiently await Christ, who will come to you, and tirelessly cry out with the words of the prophet: "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disturbed? Trust in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." ( Psalm 41:6)). Expect a double reward from God. For you will be restored to your temporal inheritance and granted heavenly things. The Lord then, at times, permits evil and delays His blessings, lest we slumber in security. Do not be dismayed when you see misfortunes befall those living in piety. The Lord does not reject you, but tests you. Know also that the protection provided by human hands is fragile, according to the words of Scripture: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord" ( Jer. 17:5, 7 ). Strongly and cheerfully guard yourself from all sins and seek comfort from the One God, keeping His holy commandments. Peaceful times will soon return to you. As after the darkness of night a bright day will shine, and as after a harsh winter a warm spring comes, so will golden and clear days come to you, and then you will give temporary consolation to all who suffer for the sake of the name of Christ, and you yourself will undoubtedly be granted eternal bliss... Save yourself in the Lord and pray for me."
Soon, Anastasia was destined to suffer further, deadly insults from her merciless, impious husband, and she wrote another letter to Saint Chrysogonus. This is what it read: "To the confessor of Christ, Chrysogonus, from Anastasia. Remember me and pray for me, that the Lord, for whose love I endure the torments of which the elder sent to you will tell you, will accept my soul."
The saint answered her: "Chrysogonus to Anastasia. Light is always preceded by darkness, and after illness, health often returns, and after death, life is promised to us. The same end awaits everyone, both the fortunate and the suffering, so that the grieving may not be overcome by despair, and so that in joy, people may not indulge in conceit. There is but one sea upon which the barges of our lives set sail, and with one helmsman our souls make their voyage. The ships of some are stronger and pass harmlessly through storms, while those of others are frail, and even in calm, they are close to sinking. The time of destruction is near for those who do not think of coming to a safe haven. And you, immaculate servant of Christ, cleave with all your thoughts to the Cross of Christ and prepare yourself for the work of the Lord, and when you serve Christ according to your own desire, then from torment you will triumphantly pass into the blessed life of Christ.”
With this letter, Saint Chrysogonus prophesied the imminent death of her cruel husband, Pompilius. Indeed, the latter was soon sent to Persia as an ambassador to the Persian king. Setting out on his journey, he had to sail across the sea. The ship on which he was traveling sank during a sudden storm and drowned. Thus perished this wretched man. Saint Anastasia, having preserved her virginity, escaped the fowler's snare like a bird. Along with her freedom, she received the entire inheritance left to her by her parents. And now, unhindered by anyone, she began to visit the prisoners in prison. She served the holy passion-bearers of Christ not only with her own possessions. Along with this, she consoled them, with her prudent words inspiring them to courageous endurance and a fearless death for Christ.
At that time, Emperor Diocletian was in Aquileia (8640) and focused all his efforts on ensuring that not a single Christian could escape his clutches. He received reports from Rome that the prisons were filled with a great multitude of Christians, who, despite various torments, did not deny their Christ, and that in all this they were supported by the Christian teacher Chrysogonus, to whom they were submissive, following his instructions in everything. The emperor ordered all Christians to be tortured and executed, and Chrysogonus to be sent to him. He reasoned that if he could overcome his stubbornness, he would easily overcome the other Christians.
When Chrysogonus was led to the king for testing, Anastasia followed her teacher from afar.
Having seen the holy man, the king first began to converse with him, meekly exhorting him to renounce Christ.
"Take my good advice, Chrysogonus," said the lawless ruler. "Join our faith, do what pleases the gods, and choose the pleasant over the painful, the useful over the unprofitable. Know that not only will you be freed from torment and gain the freedom you so desire, but you will also become the ruler of the great city of Rome."
The saint responded to this:
"I have come to know the One God, and He is dearer to me than all light and more desirable than all freedom. He is dearer to me than all life, more useful than all treasures. I believe in Him alone with my heart, confess Him with my lips, honor Him with my soul, and before the eyes of all I bow my knees to Him. But I will not honor your many gods, inhabited by demons; I think of them as Socrates did , who said of them: 'One must distance oneself from them in every possible way, for they seduce people and are known murderers of souls.' And the gifts and honor you offer me I value no more than sleep and darkness."
The king could no longer bear to hear Chrysogonus speak so freely, and he ordered his soldiers to seize him, take him to a deserted place, and cut off his head. The saint's body was thrown on the seashore , not far from the dwellings of a certain priest, Zoilus, a man of holy life, and three maidens—sisters in body and spirit, Agape, Chionia, and Irene . This priest, through a revelation from God, learned of the body of Saint Chrysogonus, took it, along with its severed head, and, placing it in an ark, hid it in his home . After thirty days, Saint Chrysogonus appeared to him in a vision and said:
"Know that over the next nine days, three of Christ's virgins living near you will be taken to martyrdom. Tell the Lord's servant Anastasia to care for them, spurring them on to courageous deeds until they are crowned with martyrdom. May you too have the good hope that you will receive the sweet fruits of your labors. Soon you too will be freed from this life and led to Christ with those who suffered for Him."
Saint Anastasia had the same revelation. And so, inspired by the Spirit of God, she came to the house of a priest she had never known and asked him:
- Where are those girls whose martyrdom was revealed to him in a vision?
Then, having learned of their whereabouts, she went to them and spent the night with them, conversing with them about the love of God and the salvation of the soul. And with her speech, she exhorted them to stand bravely, even to the point of bloodshed, for Christ, their Bridegroom. At the priest Zoilus's, she saw the relics of the holy martyr Chrysogonus, her dear teacher, and she wept over them with warm tears, entrusting herself to his prayers. Then she returned to Aquileia.
Soon after, Saint Chrysogonus's prophecy to the priest Zoilus was fulfilled. After nine days, the priest passed away to the Lord, and the holy virgins Agape, Chionia, and Irene were arrested and brought to Emperor Diocletian for interrogation. He urged them at length to sacrifice to the idols, resorting sometimes to flattery, sometimes to threats, but was unsuccessful and finally imprisoned them.
Saint Anastasia, visiting prisoners according to her custom, came to those holy virgins and consoled them, awakening in them hope in the constant help of Christ and the hope of a glorious victory over the enemies of the Lord.
Meanwhile, the emperor had to travel to Macedonia on state affairs (8644 ), so the holy virgins were entrusted to the torturer Dulcititus, who tortured and tormented them, and then handed them over to a certain count, Sisinius, for torture. The latter threw Saints Agape and Chionia into the fire. There they surrendered their spirits to God, leaving their bodies whole and unharmed in the fire. Saint Irene, however, was wounded by one of Sisinius's soldiers with an arrow from a taut bow, after which the saint died. Saint Anastasia took their pure bodies, wrapped them in white shrouds scented with perfume, and reverently laid them in a chosen place, commemorating their suffering.
Anastasia then traveled from city to city and country to country, ministering everywhere to Christians held in chains, providing them with food, drink, clothing, and all necessities at her own expense, and providing medical care to the sick. She was a comfort to all those grievously tormented and physically weakened, and with gold she purchased for them relief from long-lasting, oppressive bonds. This is why Anastasia was called the "Looser of Bonds," for through her secret care she loosened the bonds of many. To some she brought relief, to others, healing with her own hands, she cured incurable wounds, and to others, half-dead, she revived by her care, giving them health and strength for the new torments that awaited them.
Wishing to help the sick and unfortunate, she learned the art of medicine and treated the wounded herself. She did not disdain to carry in her arms those who could not use their arms or legs, broken or wounded for Christ's sake—she herself put food in their mouths, gave them drink, cleaned away their pus, and bandaged their scabs. And her only joy and happiness lay in serving Christ Himself through those who suffered for the confession of His sweet name. She took care of this with all her strength, she strove for this in every way, and, working in this matter with all her soul, she conquered her natural weakness, distinguished herself by generosity and courage, love for God and her neighbors, and care for the holy sufferers, who are always close to God and about whom she said together with David: “How exalted are your thoughts to me, O God” ( Ps. 138:17 ).
While in Macedonia and pursuing her usual duties there, Saint Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds became acquainted with a very young widow, Theodotia, who hailed from the Bithynia region, from the city of Nicaea in 8646. After the death of her husband, she was left with three infant sons and lived in Macedonia, spending her widowhood in the fervent confession of Christianity and in pious endeavors. Blessed Anastasia often stayed with this widow, loving her as a faithful servant of Christ, and was consoled by sweet conversations with her about the most sweet love for God, for which so many saints laid down their lives. Over time, it was learned that Theodotia was a Christian, and the venerable widow was arrested and brought before the emperor for interrogation.
As she stood before this impious tribunal, one of the king's entourage, named Leucadius, was seduced by her beauty, for she was beautiful and graceful. He begged the king not to kill Theodotia but to give her to him so that he could marry her. The king agreed, hoping that her husband would soon convert her to idolatry.
Levkadiy took Theodotia and her children into his home, and he did and said everything he could, entreating, exhorting, flattering, and threatening her to renounce Christ and become his wife. Theodotia answered him:
"If you are anxious to have me as your wife because you desire my riches and estates, then I voluntarily give you everything. Leave me to serve Christ, so that instead of all riches, I may inherit Christ alone. But if you desire me because of an attraction to my beauty and think to turn me away from my Christ, then know that you are striving for the impossible. For it would be easier for you to turn my beauty into ugliness and my life into death than to tear my mind away from Christ and force my consent to marry you."
At that time, Leucadia needed to accompany the emperor, who was going somewhere. He departed, leaving Theodotia in his house, and did not return for a long time. Theodotia, somewhat relieved, ministered to the prisoners, together with Saint Anastasia, healing the sick, burying the dead, and strengthening the living for greater deeds. Then Diocletian was again informed that the prisons throughout the cities were filled with Christians, and that there was no room to house other prisoners. Then the impious torturer ordered all the prisoners to be put to death by various executions, so that the prisons, freed up, could accommodate other Christians. One night was designated for this purpose, during which a great multitude of martyrs were summoned to the unfading Day—Christ the Lord. Some died by the sword, others were drowned by water, some were burned by fiery furnaces, and others were received alive by the bowels of the earth: deep ditches and pits were filled with people and covered with earth and stones.
The next morning, the Christ-loving and blessed Anastasia, as was her custom, came to one of the prisons and, finding none of the honorable sufferers, filled the air with pitiful cries and sobs. When the soldiers who happened to be there asked her why she was weeping so, she replied:
“I am looking for the servants of my God, who were in this prison yesterday, but now I don’t know where they are.”
The soldiers, seeing that she was a Christian, immediately seized her and took her to the governor of the Illyrian region, Florus 8647. When the saint was brought to the hegemon, he asked her:
- Are you a Christian?
Saint Anastasia answered:
"I am truly a Christian. What seems vile to you is precious to me. And the name Christian, which you consider a disgrace, is honorable and glorious to me."
Then the hegemon began to question Anastasia about her origins and, upon learning that she was from a famous Roman family, he asked with surprise:
- What prompted you to leave Rome, your glorious homeland, and come here?
The saint answered him:
"It was nothing other than the voice of my Lord, calling me to Himself. Heeding this voice, I left my homeland and friends, took up the Cross of my Christ, and boldly and joyfully followed Christ."
The hegemon said to this:
"Where is the Christ you confess?" Anastasia replied:
There is no place where Christ is not. He is in heaven, in the sea, and on earth; He abides in all who call upon and fear Him, enlightening their minds and always being with them.
The hegemon asked:
"Where are the people you speak of who fear your Christ? Tell us so we can recognize them."
The saint answered:
"Until now they were with us on earth, living in the body; now, having left the lower world, they are in heaven, looking down upon us from on high. This bliss was granted them by their death, accepted for Christ. And I desire to be among them and follow the same path as they."
The hegemon could do nothing with the noble Roman woman until the emperor learned of her, and so, having described everything concerning Anastasia, he sent it in a special report to Diocletian. Diocletian knew Anastasia's parents and husband, as well as herself. Realizing that she was spending the property she had received from her parents on poor Christians, he ordered the saint brought to him. Upon seeing her, he began to inquire about her condition, for he loved wealth more than his gods.
"Where are your riches, left to you by your father?" The saint answered courageously:
"If I still had any treasures or possessions with which to serve the servants of my Christ, I would not have surrendered myself to those who seek Christian blood. But now I have exhausted all the property I sacrificed to Christ, and all that remains is my body, and so I strive to offer that too as a gift to my God."
Seeing the saint speak freely and foreseeing her courage, the king lost hope of overpowering her with words or obtaining anything from her riches, the depletion of which he had just heard. He feared to engage in further conversation with her, lest she shame him with her wise words, and he ordered her to be taken to the governor, saying:
– It is not proper for your royal majesty to converse with a mad woman.
The regional governor kindly asked Saint Anastasia:
"Why don't you want to offer sacrifices to the gods, as your father did? Why have you abandoned them and worshipped Christ? After all, you don't know Him: He was born among the Jews and was killed by them as a villain."
Anastasia answered:
"And in my house there were gods and goddesses, gold, silver, and copper. I saw them standing idle, serving only as perches for birds, homes for spiders and flies. So I threw the gods and goddesses into the fire, freeing them from the dishonor inflicted upon them by birds, spiders, and flies. And from the fire they emerged as coins of gold, silver, and copper. With that money, I fed many hungry, clothed the naked, helped the sick, and satisfied the needy. And so from those gods who stood idle and useless, I extracted benefit for many."
Hearing these words, the governor exclaimed with rage:
"I don't want to hear about your ungodly act." Then the saint replied with a smirk:
"I marvel at your intelligence, judge. How can you call my actions godless? If those soulless idols possessed even a single feeling or a single power, what would have prevented them from freeing themselves from their destroyers, or from taking revenge on their destroyers, or, finally, from crying out and begging for your help? But they don't even know themselves, don't know what's happening to them."
Interrupting the saint's speech, the judge said:
“Our divine king has commanded you, putting aside all unnecessary talk, to do one of two things: either agree to a sacrifice to the gods or die a cruel death.
The saint responded to this that to die for Christ does not mean to perish, but to enter into eternal life.
After a long conversation, seeing that the saint was unyielding, the governor reported this to the emperor. Diocletian, in great anger, began to ponder what to do with Saint Anastasia. One of his confidants advised the emperor to hand her over to Ulpian, the Capitoline priest , so that he could persuade her to renounce Christ, or force her to do so through torture, or, if she refused, execute her. If she left any property, he would take it to the Capitol. This advice pleased the emperor, and he handed Saint Anastasia over to Ulpian, the high priest of all the gods.
Ulpian honorably brought her to his home, hoping to entice her with flattery rather than threats. After much gentle persuasion, he offered her a choice of opposing objects, each containing all the splendor of the world and every conceivable instrument of torture, each placed opposite each other: precious stones on one side, double-edged knives on the other; here, golden couches adorned with precious crystal trim, and there, red-hot iron beds filled with burning coals; here, necklaces , earrings, and various gold and pearl ornaments, and there, shackles, chains, and iron fetters. Here, bright mirrors and all manner of feminine attire, and there, iron combs and spears designed for tearing the flesh. On one side were precious garments, on the other were fragments and wood shavings, which the torturers usually used to aggravate the wounds inflicted on the martyrs.
Why did this treacherous and cunning man act thus? Why did he place objects of torture and torment against objects of luxury, objects of despondency against those that bring joy, and objects of horror against those that flatter? In order to seduce the bride of Christ with some or to terrify her with others. But she paid no attention to anything: she desired nothing that pleased, she did not fear or flee from objects that brought sorrow and despondency, and she looked more willingly upon the instruments of torture than upon women's attire. Thus, what the prophet says happened to the accursed one: "He lied falsely to himself" ( Psalm 37:12 )—and the treacherous priest, without foreseeing it, arranged everything for his own disgrace and shame. For Anastasia then showed even greater courage and love for Christ, so that the vanity of the pagan priest's wicked scheme and the futility of his cunning were revealed. When he said to the saint:
– Choose what you want from both sides.
She, looking at the luxury items and jewelry laid out before her, said:
- All this, devil, is yours and those who work for you, with whom you will be in eternal perdition.
Having looked at the chains and instruments of torture, Saint Anastasia said:
"Surrounded by these objects, I will become more beautiful and pleasing to my desired bridegroom—Christ. This I choose, and that I reject; this I love for the sake of my beloved Lord, and that I hate."
Then the priest, sparing her and not losing hope that she would change her mind, gave her three days to consider it. But the martyr, saddened, said:
"Why delay? Why don't you want to torment me now? You will hear nothing else from me except what I say now: I will not sacrifice to your gods, I will not fulfill the will of you and your king; but I will offer a sacrifice of praise to the King of the Ages, my only immortal God, for whom I lay down my soul. The torments you threaten I despise, for I desire nothing more than Christ alone, in whom lies eternal life.
The priest asked her:
– Do you really choose for yourself a death similar to Christ’s?
The martyr, hearing about the death of Christ, was filled with joy and said:
– Amen, amen! May it be so with me, Christ, my King!
The priest asked:
– What does this word “amen” mean?
The saint answered:
- You are not worthy to understand or pronounce this word 8650 . No sensible person would pour precious myrrh into a rotten vessel.
Then Ulpian ordered Saint Anastasia to be taken for three days to some women she knew, once her neighbors and friends, so that they could persuade her to return to the gods of her fathers. What did those wicked and impious women not do! What advice, what kind and pleasing words did they not whisper to Anastasia, reminding her of the beauty and sweetness of the world! But the saint was like a deaf person who does not hear, and like a mute who does not open her mouth. For those three days, she accepted neither food nor drink, but cried out incessantly in her heart to her Bridegroom, Christ. Three days later, the high priest Ulpian, seeing that Saint Anastasia was firm in her confession of faith, like an unshakable pillar and an immovable mountain, condemned her to torture. But first, this wretched man, wounded by her beauty, desired to defile Christ's pure dove with his impurity. However, when this impious man attempted to touch her, he suddenly became blind, a terrible pain gripped his head, and, like a madman, he screamed and cried out to his gods, begging for help. He ordered himself carried to the idol temple, hoping to receive aid from those he served. But instead of aid, he suffered great harm, and instead of life, death, for he cast out his evil soul and departed to his gods—to hell. Word of this miracle spread among many, but the holy martyr Anastasia remained free. Leaving there, she went to her aforementioned spiritual sister Theodotia, who was still staying in the house of the city governor, Leucadius, and told her in detail all she had endured and the miracle God had performed through her, showing her His mercy. Soon after, Leucadius also returned from Bithynia. He had resumed his old ways, and as before, he tried, sometimes by flattery, sometimes by threats, to persuade Theodotia to commit two iniquities: to worship his impious gods and to enter into a shameful and hateful marriage with him. Finally, having exhausted all his efforts and seeing that he could not succeed in anything because of Anastasia’s presence there, the cruel one became even more angry: he chained and handed Anastasia over to trial, and sent Theodotia and her children bound to Bithynia to Nikita the Anthipat , telling him in a letter everything concerning Theodotia.
When Blessed Theodotia was brought before this proconsul, the latter, during interrogation, began to threaten her with torture. To this, Theodotia's eldest son, a small boy named Evode, said to the proconsul:
"We, judge, do not fear the torments that give the body incorruptibility and the soul immortality. We fear God, who can destroy both soul and body in the fiery Gehenna."
The judge, hearing such words, ordered the boy beaten with rods right there, in his mother's presence, until he bled. The mother, watching this, rejoiced and strengthened her son with divine words, urging him to courageously endure every suffering. After this torture, Theodota was handed over to a shameless man named Hyrtacus, to be defiled. But just as he approached the chaste servant of God and was about to touch her, he saw a radiant youth standing beside her. He glared at him menacingly and struck him in the face so hard that it was covered in blood. This miracle was clearly witnessed by Anthipatus, but instead of recognizing God, who preserves the purity of the chaste, he became even more mad, attributing it to sorcery. He ordered the oven heated as hot as possible and threw the mother and her three children into it. And Saint Theodotia, with the blessed fruits of her womb, became a sacrifice pleasing to God: she died in fire 8652 .
At this time, Saint Anastasia was kept in chains by the Illyrian hegemon.
This man was greedy, and when he heard that Anastasia possessed great wealth, he ordered her to be brought to him secretly and said to her:
"I know you are rich and have much money and property. Yet you hold to the Christian faith, which you yourself do not hide. Fulfill the commandment of your Christ, who commands you to despise all riches and to be poor. Surrender your wealth to me and make me the heir to your estate. By doing so, you will receive a double benefit: you will fulfill Christ's commandment and, freed from our hands, you will serve your God fearlessly and unhindered.
The wise Anastasia responded wisely to this:
– In the Gospel there is the word of my Lord: “Sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” ( Matthew 19:21 ). Who would be so foolish as to give you, a rich man, what belongs to the poor? Who would be so unwise as to give you, drowning in luxury and living in sweets and self-indulgence, the food of the poor? If I see you hungry and thirsty, naked and sick and thrown into prison, then I will do for you, as is necessary, everything commanded us by Christ: I will feed you, give you drink, clothe you, visit you, serve you, help you, giving you everything you need ( Matthew 26:34-45 ).
The governor was enraged by these words and, in a rage, ordered the saint locked in a dark prison and starved to death for thirty days. But she was nourished by her hope—Christ the Lord: He was her sweet food and comfort in sorrow. Every night, the holy martyr Theodotia appeared to her, filling her heart with joy and strengthening her. Anastasia spoke with the blessed one about many things, questioning her about many things. Among other things, she asked her:
- How do you come to me after death?
Theodotia explained to her that the souls of the martyrs were granted a special grace by God, so that even after their departure from earth, they could come to whomever they wish, talk with them and console them.
After thirty days, the governor, seeing that Anastasia had not succumbed to hunger and remained healthy and radiant, became enraged at the guards, believing they were providing her with food. Finally, he ordered her imprisoned in a stronger prison, sealed the entrance with his own seal, and, placing his most trusted guard, tormented Saint Anastasia with hunger and thirst for another thirty days. During this time, the holy martyr subsisted day and night on nothing but tears and fervently prayed to God. After these thirty days, the governor led Anastasia out of the prison and, seeing that her countenance remained unchanged, condemned her to death along with others condemned to death for various crimes. All of them were to be drowned at sea.
Among those condemned was a pious man named Eutychian, stripped of all his possessions for the sake of Christ and condemned to the same death. So they were all placed on a ship and set sail. Reaching deep water, the soldiers drilled several holes in the ship, then boarded a boat specially prepared for the purpose and rowed to shore. Just as the ship was about to sink, those on board suddenly saw the holy martyr Theodotia, managing the sails and guiding the ship to shore, which it soon reached. All the condemned, seeing their salvation from drowning, were amazed and, falling at the feet of two Christians, Eutychian and Anastasia, begged them to enlighten them with the faith of Christ.
Reaching shore unharmed, they accepted the teachings of the faith from Eutychian and Anastasia and were baptized. The total number of souls saved from drowning and believing in Christ numbered one hundred and twenty.
The governor, soon learning of this, became enraged and issued orders to seize them and execute them with all manner of punishments, while the martyr Anastasia was to be stretched between four pillars and burned. Thus, the blessed Deliverer from Bonds accomplished her painful feat—she was freed from the bonds of the flesh and departed for the desired heavenly freedom . Her precious body, unharmed by fire, was begged from the governor's wife by a pious woman, Apollinaria, who buried it with honor in her vineyard. Eventually, when the persecution of the Church ceased, she erected a church over the martyr's grave.
Many more years passed, and the precious relics of Saint Anastasia became glorified. Then, with great honor, they were transferred to the royal city of Constantinople, for the protection and salvation of the city, to the glory of Christ our God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, glorified forever in one Divinity. Amen.
Source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Dmitrij_Rostovskij/zhitija-svjatykh/1128